Bednarz, Charged In East Hartford Triple Murder, Faces Arraignment

November 05, 2012|By DAVID OWENS, dowens@courant.com, The Hartford Courant

HARTFORD — — The man charged with killing his mother and two other people two years ago in East Hartford is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Superior Court in Hartford.

Brett Bednarz, 48, faces three counts of murder, and one count each of home invasion, first-degree burglary and violation of a protective order.

He was also charged with capital felony, the state's death penalty law. Because the killings occurred before Connecticut abolished its death penalty, Bednarz could face the death penalty if convicted.

Bednarz, who is represented by Public Defender John Stawicki, will likely appear only momentarily before Judge Joan K. Alexander. Bednarz is entitled to a preliminary hearing where the state must present enough evidence to persuade a judge that it's likely he committed the crimes. He will enter a plea after that hearing, or if he waives the hearing.

Police say Bednarz killed his mother, Beverly Therrien, 74, and her friends Michael Ramsey, 53, and Pamela Johns, 60. All were found dead on Thanksgiving 2010 at Therrien's home at 154 Naomi Drive, East Hartford.

East Hartford detectives worked two years to develop information they believe links Bednarz to the crime.

The killings were especially brutal. The victims each suffered massive head injuries. The murder weapon was never found, but police suspect it was a drywall hammer. Blood and brain matter were splattered from floor to ceiling in some parts of the house.

Bednarz was convicted of assaulting his mother and a court order forced him to move from the Naomi Drive home. He was living with his sister in Manchester when he was arrested.

Shortly before her death, Therrien wrote to prosecutors in Manchester that she feared her son.

"I lay here night after night wondering if Brett will come back here to hurt me again," she wrote. In a conversation with a court clerk in Manchester, Therrien said "she felt Brett Bednarz would kill her," according to the warrant for his arrest.